Electrical connector

Abstract

By enabling two separate and independent flexible metal conduit and/or armored or metal clad cables to be secured to a single connector for being mounted directly to a single elongated rigid or solid electrical tubing/conduit, an easily manufactured and assembled connector is realized. A dual or duplex conduit/cable connector is constructed for receiving two separate and independent flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables and enabling the two conduit/cables to be securely affixed to one end of the connector. The connector preferably incorporates a clamping bracket associated therewith to assure rapid and efficient assembly of the two flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables to the duplex connector.

1. An electrical connector comprising:
 A. a unitary, integrally formed body member having a first end and a second end; 
 B. the first end of the body member comprising
 a. an enlarged portal for receiving and securely holding two separate and independent flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables, and 
 b. a wall member formed in the enlarged portal and extending into the first end of the body member for maintaining the two flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables separately from each other in side to side adjacent relationship and electrically independent; and 
 
 C. the second end of the body member constructed for being quickly and easily securely mounted to a solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit; 
 
     whereby two separate and independent flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables are quickly and easily securely combined for mounting with a solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit for enabling the electrical wires contained therein to be fed therethrough. 
   
   
     2. The electrical connector defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wall member effectively establishes two separate and independent receiving zones in the enlarged portal of the body member for enabling each flexible metal conduit and/or armored or metal clad cable to be received and retained in a separate zone. 
   
   
     3. The electrical connector defined in  claim 2 , wherein said body member further comprises brackets cooperatively associated with the first end of the body member with said brackets being positioned for secure mounted holding interengagement with the flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables in each of said separate receiving zones. 
   
   
     4. The electrical connector defined in  claim 3 , wherein two brackets are employed, with each of said brackets comprising a generally U-shape formed by a first wall portion, a second wall portion and a central, interconnecting portion extending therebetween, with said central interconnecting portion incorporating a threaded aperture for receiving and retaining a screw member. 
   
   
     5. The electrical connector defined in  claim 4 , wherein the screw member of each bracket is threadedly engaged with the body member for maintaining the bracket in cooperating relationship with one receiving zone of the portal of the body member, with the first wall portion of each bracket being maintained in juxtaposed spaced relationship to the entry zone of the receiving zone. 
   
   
     6. The electrical connector defined in  claim 5 , wherein said body member further comprises two slots formed therein in side to side relationship with each other and spaced inwardly from the portal of the first end of the body member, with said slots being constructed for receiving the second wall portion of each bracket for enabling said second wall portion to extend therethrough. 
   
   
     7. The electrical connector defined in  claim 6 , wherein said brackets are constructed for cooperating association with the flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables for being positioned to enable telescopic insertion of the flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables into the receiving zones of the portal of the body member while also being clampingly engaged with the outer surface of the flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables for assuring secure mounted engagement thereof with the body member. 
   
   
     8. The electrical connector defined in  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the body member is further defined as being constructed for telescopic insertion into peripheral surrounding mounted engagement with a terminating end of any desired solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit. 
   
   
     9. The electrical connector defined in  claim 8 , wherein said second end is further defined as comprising clamping means cooperatively associated therewith for securely engaging and affixing the second end of the connector to the desired solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit. 
   
   
     10. The electrical connector defined in  claim 9 , wherein said clamping means is further defined as comprising a threaded screw mounted to the second end of the connector for being advanced into engagement with the solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit when desired. 
   
   
     11. The electrical connector defined in  claim 2 , wherein said connector further comprises two substantially cylindrically shaped locking rings or sleeves constructed for enabling the flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables to be inserted and lockingly engaged therein. 
   
   
     12. The electrical connector defined in  claim 11 , wherein one of said locking rings/sleeves is securely mounted in one of said receiving zones, thereby providing rapid, secure, locking engagement of the flexible metal conduits and/or armored or metal clad cables in the enlarged portal of the body member. 
   
   
     13. The electrical connector defined in  claim 12 , wherein each of said cylindrically shaped locking rings/sleeves comprises a plurality of inwardly extending fingers positioned for engaging the outer surface of the flexible metal conduit and/or armored or metal clad cable and lockingly retaining said cable therein, effectively preventing axial removal of the cable therefrom. 
   
   
     14. The electrical connector defined in  claim 12 , wherein the second end of the body member is further defined as being constructed for telescopic insertion into peripheral surrounding mounted engagement with a terminating end of any desired solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit. 
   
   
     15. The electrical connector defined in  claim 14 , wherein said second end is further defined as comprising clamping means cooperatively associated therewith for securely engaging and affixing the second end of the connector to the desired solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit. 
   
   
     16. The electrical connector defined in  claim 15 , wherein said clamping means is further defined as comprising a threaded screw mounted to the second end of the connector for being advanced into engagement with the solid or rigid metal tubing or conduit when desired.